Divorce Costs / 2026 Data

What a Divorce Costs in 2026: Filing Fees in Every State, Lawyer Rates, and Totals by Case Type

Direct Answer

The court fee to file for divorce runs from $72 in South Dakota to $435 in California, read from each state's own fee schedule (median $200; table below). A family law lawyer averaged $344 an hour in 2025.[1] In the largest published survey of divorced clients, people who did it themselves spent a median of $300, full-scope attorneys' fees ran a median of $7,000 (average $11,300), and a divorce that went to trial on two or more issues averaged $23,300.[2]

See the Fee for Your StateCost by Case Type

$72 to $435

Court filing fee to start a divorce, 50 states + DC, 2026

Source: Official court fee schedules

$344/hr

Average family law lawyer hourly rate, 2025

Source: Clio[1]

$7,000

Median attorneys' fees, full-scope divorce lawyer

Source: Martindale-Nolo survey[2]

672,502

Divorces in 2023 (provisional, 45 reporting States and D.C.)

Source: CDC/NCHS[3]

All 50 States + DC

Divorce Filing Fees by State (2026)

This is the fee the clerk charges to file the petition or complaint that opens a divorce case, paid by the spouse who files. We read every figure from the court's own fee schedule, the statute or rule that sets it, or the county clerk's published schedule, on 2026-09-15; each row links to that source. In 35 jurisdictions the fee is set statewide. In 16 it is set county by county, so the row shows the most populous county and says so. 9 states publish a different fee when the case involves minor children. Fees change with each legislative session, so treat the linked schedule as the authority on the day you file.

Court filing fee to start a divorce in each U.S. state and the District of Columbia, 2026, with the official source for each fee
StateFiling feeWith minor childrenSetFee waiverOfficial source
Alabama$199*SameBy county (Jefferson County)Affidavit of substantial hardship (Ala. Code 12-19-71(d))Tenth Judicial Circuit Court of Alabama (Jefferson County), Filing Fees - Domestic Relations Cases
Alaska$250SameStatewideTF-920 Request for Exemption from Payment of FeesAlaska Court System, Self-Help Center: Filing Fees & Fee Waiver
Arizona$376SameBy county (Maricopa County)Fee deferral or waiver application (Clerk's 'Deferral and Waiver of Court Fees' page)Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court, Filing Fees - Family Court Fees
Arkansas$165SameStatewideAsk the clerkBenton County Circuit Clerk, Court Fees
California$435SameStatewideFee waiver referenced in schedule (item 198, 'where fee waiver was previously granted'); form FW-001 is not named in this documentJudicial Council of California, Superior Court of California Statewide Civil Fee Schedule, effective January 1, 2026
Colorado$230SameStatewideAsk the clerkColorado Judicial Branch, JDF 1 - Court Filing Fees and Costs (R: August 14, 2023)
Connecticut$360*SameStatewideAsk the clerkConnecticut Judicial Branch, Court Fees (Revised effective September 21, 2023)
Delaware$165SameStatewideAsk the clerkThe Family Court of the State of Delaware, Schedule of Assessed Costs, Effective 7/20/26
District of Columbia$80SameStatewideWaiver of fees pursuant to D.C. Code § 15-712District of Columbia Courts, Family Filing Fees
Florida$409SameBy county (Miami-Dade County)Application For Determination of Civil Indigent Status (linked on same page)Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Court and Comptroller, Civil & Family Court - Family Court Related Fees
Georgia$223*SameBy county (Fulton County (Superior Court): $223.00 per the Clerk's Superior Fee Table (July 1, 2024 fees); the same Clerk's FAQ page says $220.00)Ask the clerkFulton County Clerk of Superior Court, Review Fee Schedule (Superior Fee Table, July 1st, 2024 Fee(s))
Hawaii$215$265StatewideEx Parte Motion and Affidavit to Waive Filing Fees (fee waiver request available from Family Court Service Centers)Hawaii State Judiciary, Instructions for Uncontested Divorce Packet With Minor and/or Dependent Children (Family Court of the First Circuit, Oahu)
Idaho$154$207StatewideI.R.C.P. 10.1 (Filing Fee - Waiver), separate rule at https://isc.idaho.gov/ircp10.1-new; not mentioned in Appendix A itselfIdaho Supreme Court, I.R.C.P. Appendix A, Filing Fee Schedule - District Court and Magistrate Division (Effective July 12, 2024)
Illinois$388SameBy county (Cook County (Chicago): Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, New Case Filing Fee $388.00 (Appearance Fee for the respondent $250.00))Application and affidavit to sue or defend as an indigent person, the '298 Petition' (Illinois Supreme Court Rule 298)Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Domestic Relations Division Fee Schedule (CCDR 0703, dated 1/1/2022)
Indiana$157SameStatewideAsk the clerkIndiana State Board of Accounts, Filing Fees by Case Type Collected by the Clerk (July 1, 2025), 2025 Court Costs and Fees by Case Type
Iowa$265SameStatewideAsk the clerkIowa Code 2026, section 602.8105(1)(b) (Fees for civil cases and other services)
Kansas$195SameStatewidePoverty Affidavit (K.S.A. 60-2001(b), poverty affidavit in lieu of docket fee)Kansas Judicial Branch Self-Help Center, District Court Filing Fees
Kentucky$208*SameStatewideAsk the clerkSupreme Court of Kentucky, Order 2026-15, In re: Order Amending the Rules of Civil Procedure (CR 3.02 Circuit civil fees and costs), entered May 14, 2026
Louisiana$150SameBy county (East Baton Rouge Parish (19th Judicial District, Family Court): Family new suit advance cost deposit $150.00 without service of process, $240.00 with one service of process (Rev. 7/3/24))Proceedings in forma pauperis, La. Code Civ. Proc. art. 5181 et seq. (Waiver of Costs for Indigent Party), per the Clerk's Suit Accounting pageEast Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court, Advance Cost Fee Schedule (Suit Accounting Form #17, Rev. 7/3/24)
Maine$120SameStatewideIn forma pauperis status pursuant to M.R. Civ. P. 91 (Application to Proceed Without Payment of Fees)Maine Supreme Judicial Court, Administrative Order JB-05-26 (A. 3-26), Court Fees Schedule, section I(A)(3)(k), effective March 9, 2026
Maryland$165SameStatewideWaiver by Court: Courts Article 7-201 and Md. Rules 1-325(a) and 2-603(e) (Section I.A.3 of the schedule)Maryland Judiciary, Revised Schedule of Charges, Costs and Fees to be Charged by the Clerks of the Circuit Courts under Courts Article, 7-202 (effective September 16, 2021)
Massachusetts$215SameStatewideAsk the clerkMass.gov, Probate and Family Court filing fees
Michigan$175$255StatewideMCL 600.2529(5) / MCR 2.002 (fee waiver or suspension); e-filing fee also waived under MCL 600.1986(3)Michigan Supreme Court / SCAO, Circuit Court Fee and Assessments Table (February 2025)
Minnesota$402SameBy county (Hennepin County ($402 = base fee $340 + other fee $50 + law library fee $12))Same page: 'If you cannot afford to pay a court fee, you can ask to have the fee reduced or waived' (in forma pauperis)Minnesota Judicial Branch, District Court Fees - Hennepin County
Mississippi$158*SameBy county (Oktibbeha County (Hinds County, the most populous, does not publish its chancery court filing fee schedule online))Ask the clerkOktibbeha County, MS - Chancery Court Filing Fees
Missouri$148.5SameBy county (St. Louis County (21st Judicial Circuit) - $148.50, effective January 1, 2026)Ask the clerkSt. Louis County Circuit Court (21st Judicial Circuit), Schedule of Deposits and Fees, CCOPR101-WS Rev 01/2026, effective January 1, 2026
Montana$170SameStatewideAsk the clerkMontana Code Annotated 2025, 25-1-201 Fees of clerk of district court
Nebraska$200SameStatewideProceedings in forma pauperis, Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-2301 (listed on the same page)Nebraska Judicial Branch, Filing Fees and Court Costs (effective 07-01-2026)
Nevada$299SameBy county (Clark County (Eighth Judicial District Court) - $299.00)Ask the clerkEighth Judicial District Court (Clark County), Official Fees for the Eighth Judicial District Court (Rev. 8.28.26 EJDC Filing Fees)
New Hampshire$280$282StatewideSame document: 'If you cannot afford a fee, you may ask the court to pay less or file for free' - How to Request to Pay a Lower Fee or File for Free (courts.nh.gov)New Hampshire Judicial Branch, Circuit Court Filing Fees (Family Division Rule 1.3)
New Jersey$300$325StatewideFee Waiver form (CN 11208), Court Rule 1:5-6 / njcourts.gov/self-help/fee-waiverNJ Courts, Self-Help: Divorce (Plaintiff's Fees table)
New Mexico$137SameStatewideApplication for Free Process (court may grant free process or fee reduction on showing of indigence)Second Judicial District Court (Bernalillo County), Fees, Costs & Filing
New York$210SameStatewideApplication for a Waiver of Court Costs, Fees and Expenses (poor person relief, CPLR 1101), forms in the packet's Supplemental AppendixNY Unified Court System, Uncontested Divorce Instructions (Rev. 3/1/26), Filing Fees / Step 2
North Carolina$225SameStatewidePetition to Proceed as an Indigent (AOC-G-106); G.S. 7A-305(c) exempts 'suits by an indigent' from advance costsN.C. General Statutes Section 7A-305, Costs in civil actions
North Dakota$160SameStatewideFiling Fee Waiver Request form (ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/fee-waiver)North Dakota Court System, North Dakota Court Fee Schedule, Effective July 1, 2025
Ohio$275SameBy county (Franklin County (Columbus), the most populous county)Ask the clerkFranklin County Clerk of Courts, Domestic Relations Division Fee Schedule (Revised 12/2025)
Oklahoma$183SameStatewideAffidavit in forma pauperis, 28 O.S. Section 152(H)Oklahoma Statutes, Title 28 Section 152, Flat Fee Schedule - Forma Pauperis (OSCN)
Oregon$301SameStatewideApplication for waiver or deferral of fees, ORS 21.682Oregon Judicial Department, Circuit Court Fee Schedule (Public Version), Effective January 1, 2026
Pennsylvania$195.25$368.75By county (Allegheny County (Pittsburgh))Petition to proceed In Forma Pauperis (IFP), filed with the complaint (Philadelphia brochure)Allegheny County Department of Court Records, Family Division Fees (effective January 13, 2025)
Rhode Island$120SameStatewideAsk the clerkR.I. Gen. Laws Section 9-29-19, Family court fees
South Carolina$150SameStatewideMotion for Leave to Proceed in Forma Pauperis, Rule 3(b)(1), SCRCP (Form SCCA 405)South Carolina Judicial Branch, Family Court Filing Fees
South Dakota$72SameStatewideUJS-022 Motion, Affidavit, and Order to Waive Filing Fee & Service of Process Fee (SDCL 16-2-29.2)South Dakota Unified Judicial System, Schedule of Court Costs, Guide to Filing Fees and Court Costs - Civil Filings Only (Effective July 1, 2026)
Tennessee$356.5$431.5By county (Shelby County Circuit Court Clerk (Memphis))Ask the clerkShelby County, TN, Schedule of Filing Fees, Circuit Court (Circuit Court Clerk)
Texas$350$365By county (Harris County District Clerk (Houston))Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs, Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145Harris County District Clerk, Civil and Family Cases Filing and Service Fees (Effective January 1, 2026)
Utah$350SameStatewideFee Waiver page (Motion to Waive Fees) linked from the same fee pageUtah State Courts, Filing/Record Fees (Filing Fees - Effective May 6, 2026)
Vermont$295SameStatewide32 V.S.A. 1431(h): fee may be waived under V.R.C.P. 3.1 if the applicant is unable to pay (in forma pauperis)Vermont Statutes Online, 32 V.S.A. § 1431 (Fees in Supreme and Superior Courts)
Virginia$89SameBy county (Fairfax County Circuit Court Clerk (Fairfax Circuit Court))Ask the clerkFairfax Circuit Court, Civil Filing Instructions & Fee Schedule (Effective July 1, 2026)
Washington$364SameBy county (King County Superior Court Clerk (Seattle))Ask the clerkKing County Superior Court Clerk (Department of Judicial Administration), Superior Court and Clerk's Fee Schedule
West Virginia$135SameStatewideAsk the clerkWest Virginia Code § 59-1-11, Fees to be charged by clerk of circuit court
Wisconsin$184.5$194.5StatewideMotion for waiver of costs and fees under Wis. Stat. 814.29(1) (noted on the same fee table)Wisconsin Court System, Wisconsin Circuit Court Fee, Forfeiture, Fine and Surcharge Tables, Table 1 (Updated September 2, 2026)
Wyoming$160SameStatewideAsk the clerkWyoming Legislature, Wyoming Statutes Title 5 (Courts), § 5-3-206 Fees

Fee covers the first filing only (the petition or complaint). Service of process, certified copies, parenting classes, and motions are billed separately by most courts. * marks a row where the official schedule needed interpretation; hover the mark or read the notes in the methodology section. Fetched 2026-09-15; 51 of 51 rows read verbatim from an official source.

Lowest

South Dakota at $72. 25 jurisdictions charge under $200 to open a divorce case.

Highest

California at $435. 11 jurisdictions charge more than $300 for the first filing alone.

Median

The median verified fee is $200. Where a state lets each county set the fee, the table uses the largest county, so smaller counties may be lower.

Hourly Rates

How Much Does a Divorce Lawyer Cost?

Divorce lawyers bill by the hour against a retainer. They cannot take a percentage of the outcome: ABA Model Rule 1.5(d)(1) bars any fee in a domestic relations matter that is contingent on securing a divorce or on the amount of alimony, support, or property settlement.[6] So the bill is the hourly rate multiplied by the hours the case needs, which is why the same lawyer costs a few thousand dollars for an agreed divorce and tens of thousands for a trial.

Clio, 2025 averages

Family law lawyer$344/hr
Family law paralegal and staff$183/hr
Family law firm, blended$295/hr
All practice areas, lawyer$349/hr

Aggregated, anonymized billing data from tens of thousands of legal professionals; figures reproduced verbatim.[1] The 2025 average for every state is on our lawyer cost by state page.

Martindale-Nolo survey, 2019

Average rate reported by divorce lawyers$270/hr
Clients who paid $200 to $300 an hour69%
Clients who paid $100 an hour11%
Clients who paid $400 or more20%

Survey of Nolo readers who had recently been through a divorce, plus fee information reported by divorce lawyers across the country.[2] Six years old, so read it as the shape of the market rather than today's rate.

What People Actually Paid

Average Cost of Divorce by Case Type

The only published survey that ties divorce costs to how the case was handled is Martindale-Nolo Research's 2019 survey of readers who had recently divorced.[2] Its figures are reproduced below exactly as Nolo reports them. Averages are pulled up by a minority of expensive cases, so where Nolo gives a median we show it too: for full-scope attorneys' fees the average was $11,300 but the median was $7,000, and 42% of people paid $5,000 or less.

Average and median divorce costs by how the case was handled, Martindale-Nolo 2019 survey
How the divorce was handledAverageMedianWhat the figure covers
Handled it yourself, no lawyer$925$300Total costs not counting mediation. The filing fee is usually the largest item.
Consulting lawyer only (advice, drafting, or review)$4,600$3,000Attorneys' fees for people who hired a lawyer for part of the case instead of full representation.
Uncontested, full-scope lawyer$4,100n/pAverage total cost including attorneys' fees where the spouses agreed on all major issues.
Full-scope lawyer, all cases (attorneys' fees only)$11,300$7,00042% paid $5,000 or less; other expenses averaged $1,480 (median $500).
Disputes at the start, settled without trial$10,600n/pAverage total costs where the lawyers negotiated every contested issue to a settlement.
Trial on one contested issue$20,400n/pAverage total costs.
Trial on two or more contested issues$23,300n/pAverage total costs. The most expensive path in the survey.

n/p = not published. Source: Martindale-Nolo Research 2019 divorce survey as reported by Nolo, updated June 5, 2024.[2] "Total costs" rows include attorneys' fees and other expenses; "attorneys' fees only" rows exclude filing fees, experts, and mediation.

The trial multiplier

Settling every disputed issue averaged $10,600. Trying one issue nearly doubled it to $20,400, and trying two or more reached $23,300.[2]

Other expenses

Beyond lawyer fees, represented clients reported an average of $1,480 in other costs (filing fees, experts, mediators, copies), with a more typical median of $500.[2]

Consulting instead of hiring

People who paid a lawyer only for advice, drafting, or review spent an average of $4,600 and a median of $3,000, less than half the full-scope median.[2]

Self-Represented Divorce

How Much Does It Cost to File for Divorce Without a Lawyer?

Most divorces already run this way. In the National Center for State Courts' study of 147,436 domestic relations cases in eleven large urban courts, 72 percent of cases indicated that the petitioner and/or respondent was self-represented, ranging from 33 to 86 percent by court.[4] When IAALS interviewed self-represented family litigants, just over 90% said financial issues were influential, if not determinative, in the decision to go without a lawyer.[5] Our self-represented litigant statistics page collects the rest of that research.

The filing fee

$72 to $435 depending on the state (table above). It is the one unavoidable cost, unless the court grants a fee waiver, and it is charged whether or not you hire a lawyer.

Everything else

Service of process, certified copies of the decree, a parenting class where the state requires one, and any mediation. Self-represented people in the Martindale-Nolo survey averaged $925 in total, with a median of $300, not counting mediation.[2]

Paying for only the paperwork

Many self-represented spouses buy help with the documents alone: the petition, financial disclosures, marital settlement agreement, parenting plan, and proposed decree, drafted to the local court's format, then file and appear themselves. Under ABA Model Rule 1.2(c) a lawyer may limit representation this way if the limitation is reasonable and the client gives informed consent.[7]

Keeping the Cost Down

Cheapest Way to Get a Divorce: Uncontested Divorce Cost and Fee Waivers

Every figure in the survey data points the same direction: the cost of a divorce is driven by disagreement, not by paperwork. An uncontested divorce, where both spouses have already agreed on property, debts, support, and parenting, is the cheapest kind in every state because the court only has to approve the agreement.

  1. 01

    Agree first, file second

    Uncontested divorces where both spouses hired lawyers averaged $4,100 in total costs, against $10,600 for cases that started with disputes and $20,400 or more for cases that went to trial.[2]

  2. 02

    Ask for the fee waiver

    Every state court has an application to waive or defer the filing fee for people who cannot afford it. The table above records the mechanism for 31 jurisdictions where the official schedule mentions it. If granted, the $72 to $435 fee becomes $0.

  3. 03

    Buy the drafting, not the hours

    A consulting lawyer for advice, drafting, or review ran a median of $3,000 in the survey, versus $7,000 for full representation. Limited-scope representation is permitted by ABA Model Rule 1.2(c).[7]

  4. 04

    Use legal aid if you qualify

    Legal Services Corporation funds civil legal aid offices in every state for people who qualify by income; its Get Legal Help directory finds the local office. Family law is among the most common case types they handle.[8]

Marital settlement agreementDivorce document preparationChild support calculatorAlimony calculatorFamily law templates
Context

Divorce Statistics Behind the Numbers

672,502

Divorces and annulments, 2023 provisional (45 reporting States and D.C.)[3]

2.4 per 1,000

Divorce rate per 1,000 population, 2023 provisional[3]

2,041,926

Marriages, 2023 provisional (rate 6.1 per 1,000)[3]

72%

Domestic relations cases with at least one self-represented party (eleven-court study)[4]

People Also Ask

Divorce Cost Questions

The questions people search most about the cost of divorce, answered from the data on this page.

What is the cheapest you can get a divorce for?
The floor is the court filing fee, which runs from $72 (South Dakota) to $435 (California) across the 50 states and DC in our verified table, and can be $0 if the court grants a fee waiver for low income. Beyond the fee, people who handled their own divorce without a lawyer reported a median total cost of $300 and an average of $925 in the Martindale-Nolo survey. An uncontested case, where both spouses agree on property, support, and parenting, is the cheapest kind because nothing has to be litigated.
What if you can't afford a divorce?
Three routes exist in every state. First, ask the clerk for the fee waiver form (called in forma pauperis, indigency, or fee deferral depending on the state); if the court grants it, the filing fee is waived or deferred. Second, free civil legal aid through Legal Services Corporation grantees is available to people who qualify by income. Third, limited-scope representation lets you pay a lawyer for only part of the case, such as drafting the settlement agreement or reviewing your paperwork, which ABA Model Rule 1.2(c) permits when the limitation is reasonable and you give informed consent. In the Martindale-Nolo survey, people who used a consulting lawyer this way paid a median of $3,000 in fees versus $7,000 for full representation.
How much is a divorce in Texas if both parties agree?
The fee to file for divorce in Texas is $350 in Harris County District Clerk (Houston) (fees in Texas are set county by county), or $365 when the case involves minor children, according to Harris County District Clerk, Civil and Family Cases Filing and Service Fees (Effective January 1, 2026). That fee is the only cost the court requires. Beyond it, an agreed (uncontested) divorce costs whatever you spend on help: the Martindale-Nolo survey found average total costs of $4,100 for uncontested divorces where the spouses hired lawyers, and a median of $300 for people who did it themselves.
What does divorce cost if both parties agree?
An agreed divorce still requires the filing fee ($72 to $435 depending on the state, see the table above) and usually a small fee to serve the other spouse or have them sign a waiver of service. Everything else is optional. In the Martindale-Nolo survey, uncontested divorces where both sides hired full-scope lawyers averaged $4,100 in total, consulting-only representation ran a median of $3,000, and self-represented divorces had a median cost of $300.
How much does a divorce lawyer cost per hour?
Clio's 2025 data puts the average family law lawyer at $344 an hour, slightly under the $349 average across all practice areas, with paralegal and staff time at $183 and a blended family law firm rate of $295. The Martindale-Nolo survey, conducted in 2019, found an average rate of $270, with 69% of clients paying between $200 and $300 an hour and 20% paying $400 or more. Rates vary widely by state; our lawyer cost page lists the 2025 average for every state.
How do people afford divorce?
Mostly by not paying for full representation. The National Center for State Courts found that at least one side was self-represented in 72% of domestic relations cases in its eleven-court study, and in the IAALS interviews of self-represented family litigants just over 90% said financial issues were influential, if not determinative, in that decision. The tools that make it affordable are the fee waiver for the filing fee, legal aid for people who qualify, unbundled or limited-scope help for the drafting and review steps, and an uncontested agreement that keeps the case out of trial, where average costs in the Martindale-Nolo survey jumped to $20,400 and above.
Can a divorce lawyer work on contingency?
No. ABA Model Rule 1.5(d)(1), adopted in some form by every state, bars a lawyer from charging any fee in a domestic relations matter that is contingent on securing a divorce or on the amount of alimony, support, or property settlement. Divorce lawyers therefore bill hourly against a retainer or, for defined tasks such as an uncontested filing, at a flat fee.
Do you have to pay the filing fee if you cannot afford it?
Not necessarily. Every state court system has a procedure to waive or defer filing fees for people who cannot pay, usually by filing an affidavit or application about your income along with the divorce petition. The fee table on this page notes the waiver mechanism wherever the same official fee schedule mentions it (31 of 51 jurisdictions). If the court grants the waiver, you file for $0; if it denies it, you pay the listed fee or ask about a payment plan.
Methodology & Sources

Methodology and Sources

Filing fees. Each of the 51 rows was read on 2026-09-15 from an official source: the state judiciary's fee schedule or self-help page, the statute or court rule that sets the fee, or the county clerk's published schedule. We did not use fee tables from legal publishers, form vendors, or law firm websites. Where a state lets each county set the fee we used the most populous county and marked the row "By county." Where a state publishes a separate fee for cases with minor children we recorded it. The verbatim line from each source is kept in our source log and the row links to the page it came from. 51 of 51 rows are verbatim; the remainder are marked in the table and explained in the notes below.

Market figures. Hourly rates are Clio's published 2025 averages, reproduced without rounding. Total-cost figures are Martindale-Nolo Research's 2019 survey exactly as Nolo reports it; that survey is six years old and drew on Nolo's own readers, so we present it as the best available breakdown by case type rather than as a current national average. We did not publish the round "average divorce costs $15,000" figures that circulate in consumer articles because we could not trace them to a primary source.

Calculations. The minimum, maximum, median, and counts over the fee table are computed from the verified rows at build time, so they change whenever a row is updated.

  1. [1]Clio, Compare Average Lawyer Hourly Rate by State (2026 Data), updated March 2026, reporting 2025 averages (family law practice-area figures). www.clio.com/resources/legal-trends/compare-lawyer-rates/
  2. [2]Martindale-Nolo Research, 2019 divorce survey, as reported in Nolo, "How Much Does a Divorce Cost?" by E.A. Gjelten, updated by Stacy Barrett, June 5, 2024. www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/ctp/cost-of-divorce.html
  3. [3]CDC, National Center for Health Statistics, FastStats: Marriage and Divorce (provisional 2023 data), last reviewed March 17, 2025. www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/marriage-divorce.htm
  4. [4]National Center for State Courts, Family Justice Initiative: The Landscape of Domestic Relations Cases in State Courts (2018), 147,436 cases in eleven large urban courts. ncsc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/famct/id/1544/
  5. [5]Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System, Cases Without Counsel: Research on Experiences of Self-Representation in U.S. Family Court (2016). iaals.du.edu/sites/default/files/documents/publications/cases_without_counsel_research_report.pdf
  6. [6]American Bar Association, Model Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1.5: Fees (paragraph (d)(1), domestic relations matters). www.americanbar.org/groups/professional_responsibility/publications/model_rules_of_professional_conduct/rule_1_5_fees/
  7. [7]American Bar Association, Model Rule 1.2: Scope of Representation (limited-scope representation, paragraph (c)). www.americanbar.org/groups/professional_responsibility/publications/model_rules_of_professional_conduct/rule_1_2_scope_of_representation_allocation_of_authority_between_client_lawyer/
  8. [8]Legal Services Corporation, Get Legal Help (free civil legal aid for people who qualify by income). www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/what-legal-aid/get-legal-help
State fee sources and notes (51 jurisdictions)
  1. AlabamaDomestic relations complaint (divorce) filing fee, circuit court. Tenth Judicial Circuit Court of Alabama (Jefferson County), Filing Fees - Domestic Relations Cases (county clerk fee schedule). jefferson.alacourt.gov/filing-fees/filing-fees-domestic-relations/Fee line as read: $199 in Jefferson County; $194 to $208 across county charts checked (statewide statutory base $145). Statewide base docket fee is set by Ala. Code 12-19-71(a)(5)-(6): '(5) One hundred forty-five dollars ($145) for cases filed on the domestic relations docket of the circuit court in which the circuit clerk determines that the cases are uncontested at the time of filing. ... (6) One hundred forty-five dollars ($145) for cases filed on the domestic relations docket of the circuit court in which the circuit clerk determines that the cases are contested at the time of filing.' (https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama?section=12-19-71, fetched 2026-09-15; 12-19-71(c)(2) preserves local court fees set by local act, which is why counties differ). County charts checked 2026-09-15: Jefferson $199 (chart states 'All fees reported on these pages are current as of June 21, 2012'), Mobile 'New Divorce $208.00' (https://mobile.alacourt.gov/domestic-relations/), Montgomery 'Domestic Relations Docket Fee $194.00' (https://montgomery.alacourt.gov/domestic-relations/domestic-relations-fee-chart/). Confidence is partial because the Jefferson chart carries a 2012 date stamp; confirm with the Jefferson County Circuit Clerk (205-325-5355) before publishing the $199 figure.
  2. AlaskaOpening a divorce, dissolution, custody or paternity case (Administrative Rule 9 fee schedule). Alaska Court System, Self-Help Center: Filing Fees & Fee Waiver (court website). courts.alaska.gov/shc/courtfees.htmPage states 'Administrative Rule 9 sets the fee schedule for all court proceedings and services.' Same fee applies to divorce (contested) and dissolution (joint, uncontested). Motion to modify a final decree is $75 per the same page.
  3. ArizonaPetition for Dissolution of Marriage (with or without children), Superior Court. Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court, Filing Fees - Family Court Fees (county clerk fee schedule). www.clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov/services/filings/filing-feesFee line as read: $376 in Maricopa County (statewide base $261 before county add-ons). Maricopa chart note: 'This chart reflects the current State base fees authorized by A.R.S. 12-284, Arizona Code of Judicial Administration 3-404 and Supreme Court Administrative Order 2024-210 plus additional fees determined by Statute, Supreme Court Administrative Order or Board of Supervisors Resolution.' Statewide base per AZ Supreme Court Superior Court Filing Fees table (https://www.azcourts.gov/courtfilingfees/Superior-Court-Filing-Fees, 'Effective December 28, 2024'): 'Petition for dissolution of marriage $176.00 [base] $15.00 [doc storage] $5.00 [spousal maint fund] $65.00 [conciliation court] $261.00 [total]'. With-children and without-children line items carry the same fee in Maricopa. Summary Consent Decree is $331.50. Response fee $287.
  4. ArkansasInitiating a cause of action in the circuit court (civil, domestic), Ark. Code Ann. 21-6-403(b)(1). Benton County Circuit Clerk, Court Fees (county clerk fee schedule). bentoncountyar.gov/circuit-clerk/court-fees/Fee is set by statute (Ark. Code Ann. 21-6-403(b)(1)), so it is uniform statewide; the official clerk schedule quoted cites the statute. The statute text itself on arkleg.state.ar.us could not be fetched (blocked), and the Pulaski County (most populous) Circuit Clerk site (https://www.pulaskiclerk.com/services/court-filings/) does not post amounts. The Arkansas Judiciary filing-fee page (https://arcourts.gov/courts/clerk-of-the-courts/filing-information) lists only appellate fees. Clerk-issued summons is $2.50 extra per the same Benton schedule. No fee waiver mechanism mentioned on the source page (in forma pauperis petition under Ark. R. Civ. P. not verified here).
  5. CaliforniaPetition or other first paper for dissolution of marriage or domestic partnership, legal separation, or nullity (item 97). Judicial Council of California, Superior Court of California Statewide Civil Fee Schedule, effective January 1, 2026 (court website). courts.ca.gov/system/files/file/statewide-civil-fee-schedule-eff-01012026.pdfFee line as read: $435 (higher in Riverside, San Bernardino and San Francisco due to local surcharge). Footnote in schedule: '* Fees marked with an asterisk will vary in the counties of Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Francisco because of a local surcharge for courthouse construction. The fees in those counties are shown in the appendix.' Response (item 98) is also $435. Joint petition for summary dissolution (item 100) is $435 for both petitioners. Verified from a rendered image of page 6 of the PDF.
  6. ColoradoPetition for Divorce, Legal Separation, Invalidity, or Declaratory Judgment (Domestic Relations, item 1). Colorado Judicial Branch, JDF 1 - Court Filing Fees and Costs (R: August 14, 2023) (court website). www.coloradojudicial.gov/sites/default/files/2024-05/JDF1.pdfVerified from a rendered image of page 6 of 14 (Domestic Relations table). Response fee is $116 (item 4). JDF 1 itself does not mention the fee-waiver form (Colorado uses JDF 205 Motion to File Without Payment, not verified here).
  7. ConnecticutSuperior Court entry fee for a civil cause (dissolution of marriage is not separately listed and falls under this line). Connecticut Judicial Branch, Court Fees (Revised effective September 21, 2023) (court website). www.jud.ct.gov/external/super/courtfee.htmThe Judicial Branch fee table has no separate 'dissolution of marriage' line; family dissolution actions are civil causes under C.G.S. 52-259(a) and the $360 entry fee applies. Post-judgment motion to modify a family judgment is listed separately (item 17). Confidence is partial only because the quoted line does not name dissolution; the fee-waiver form (JD-FM-75 Application for Waiver of Fees, jud.ct.gov/webforms/forms/Flat/FM075_FLAT.pdf) is not mentioned on the fee page.
  8. DelawareCivil Filing - Divorce, Family Court. The Family Court of the State of Delaware, Schedule of Assessed Costs, Effective 7/20/26 (court website). courts.delaware.gov/forms/download.aspxFee line as read: $165 (plus $10 Court Security Fee; ancillary matters $90 each). Read from the PDF rendered in a browser (the site rejects scripted downloads). Header reads 'Effective 7/20/26'. Same schedule: 'Ancillary Matters i.e.: Property division, alimony, separation agreement (Cost Per Matter) 90.00' and 'Court Security Assessment – Criminal & Civil* 10.00', so a divorce petition with no ancillary requests costs $175 all in. Linked from https://courts.delaware.gov/help/fees/familyfiling.aspx. Fee-waiver (in forma pauperis affidavit) not visible on page 1 of the 3-page schedule; pages 2-3 not reviewed.
  9. District of ColumbiaFiling complaint or petition, Family Court (Domestic Relations) initial filing fee. District of Columbia Courts, Family Filing Fees (court website). www.dccourts.gov/superior-court/superior-court-divisions/family-court-operationsSame page: 'Persons who are unable to pay court fees may apply for waiver of fees pursuant to D.C. Code § 15-712.' Counterclaim is $20; motions $20. Page comment states the fees correspond to Superior Court Civil Rule 202 with Domestic Relations Branch items incorporated.
  10. FloridaDissolution of marriage petition, circuit court (Family Court related fees). Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Court and Comptroller, Civil & Family Court - Family Court Related Fees (county clerk fee schedule). www.miamidadeclerk.gov/clerk/family-court.pageFee line as read: $409 in Miami-Dade County (statute sets base at up to $395 plus add-ons). Miami-Dade posts a single dissolution fee; there is no separate with-children line item (the $409 recorded in with_children_fee_usd is the same fee). Statutory basis: Fla. Stat. 28.241(1)(a)1.a. (http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0028/Sections/0028.241.html, fetched 2026-09-15): 'the party instituting any civil action, suit, or proceeding in the circuit court shall pay to the clerk of that court a filing fee of up to $395 in all cases in which there are not more than five defendants'. Clerks add statutory items (e.g., summons issuance) to reach $408-$409; most Florida clerks post $408 or $409. Simplified dissolution carries the same fee per the Miami-Dade site.
  11. GeorgiaCourt Costs: Divorce (filing a divorce action in Superior Court); Sheriff's service is a separate $50.00 per copy served. Fulton County Clerk of Superior Court, Review Fee Schedule (Superior Fee Table, July 1st, 2024 Fee(s)) (county clerk fee schedule). www.fultonclerk.org/400/Fee-ScheduleFee line as read: $223 in Fulton County (varies by county). Georgia superior court filing fees are collected by each county's Clerk of Superior Court (O.C.G.A. 15-6-77 plus statutory add-ons), so totals differ slightly by county; the state publishes no range. Fulton is the most populous county. The Clerk's Fee Schedule page (dated July 1st, 2024) lists Divorce at $223.00, but the Clerk's FAQ 'What is the cost of filing a civil case?' (https://fultonclerk.org/FAQ.aspx?QID=71) says verbatim: 'The filing fee for all civil actions is $215.00 for the first plaintiff and defendant. Each additional party is $0.00. Divorce cases are filed for $220.00 and there is also a Sheriff's service fee of $50.00 per service.' The dated fee table is treated as controlling; confirm by phone (Cashier 404-613-5010) before publishing a single figure. The Clerk's PDF fee schedule (DocumentCenter/View/376) could not be downloaded intact through the proxy. No with/without-children distinction. Neither Fulton page mentions the pauper's affidavit, so fee_waiver is left null.
  12. HawaiiFiling fees required to open a divorce case (Complaint for Divorce) in Family Court: $100 initial filing fee + $65 surcharge + $50 computer system surcharge; plus $50 parent education surcharge when there are minor children. Hawaii State Judiciary, Instructions for Uncontested Divorce Packet With Minor and/or Dependent Children (Family Court of the First Circuit, Oahu) (court website). www.courts.state.hi.us/docs/1FP/UncontestWChildren.pdfFee line as read: $215 without minor children; $265 with minor children. Same totals appear in the Judiciary's Oahu without-children packet (https://www.courts.state.hi.us/docs/1FP/uncontestWOChildren_instr.pdf) and the Kauai (Fifth Circuit) packet (https://www.courts.state.hi.us/docs/form/kauai/Divorce-Without-Children-Packet.pdf), which names the waiver form: 'Ex Parte Motion and Affidavit to Waive Filing Fees (form available at the Legal Documents Section)'. The fee is uniform across circuits (set by statute, HRS 607-5), so basis is statewide; Oahu (First Circuit, Honolulu) is the most populous circuit. The Judiciary's dedicated fee page returned 404 during this check; the packets are the live official statement.
  13. IdahoCategory B.1 Divorce, initial filing (Total column), Magistrate Division. Idaho Supreme Court, I.R.C.P. Appendix A, Filing Fee Schedule - District Court and Magistrate Division (Effective July 12, 2024) (court rule). api.isc.idaho.gov/uploads/Rules_PDFs/1775633983169-Appendix-A-Civil-Case-Filing-Fee line as read: $154 without minor children; $207 with minor children. The PDF table lays out two rows under B.1 Divorce: 'a. with minor children' with a Total of 207.00 (10+26+10+52+23+80+6) and 'b. without minor children' with a Total of 154.00 (10+26+10+15+17+70+6). Text extraction interleaves the columns; the row-to-total mapping was confirmed by summing the component columns. Statutory basis I.C. 31-3201A. Fee is uniform statewide.
  14. IllinoisPetition for Dissolution of Marriage, new case filing fee, Domestic Relations Division. Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Domestic Relations Division Fee Schedule (CCDR 0703, dated 1/1/2022) (county clerk fee schedule). services.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org/Forms/Forms/pdf_files/CCDR0703.pdfFee line as read: $388 in Cook County; statute caps Schedule 1 filing fees at $371 in a county of 3,000,000+ and $321 elsewhere, set county by county. Illinois fees are set by each county board within statutory maxima: 705 ILCS 105/27.1b(a)(1) (https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=070501050K27.1b) reads verbatim 'SCHEDULE 1: not to exceed a total of $371 in a county with a population of 3,000,000 or more and not to exceed $321 in any other county', and Illinois Supreme Court order M.R. 29741 (Civil Assessment Schedules, eff. 1/1/2022) places 'DISSOLUTION WITH CHILDREN (DC) cases' and 'DISSOLUTION NO CHILDREN (DN) cases' in Schedule 1. Cook's posted $388 exceeds the $371 Schedule 1 cap, presumably because Cook-specific add-ons are included; the Clerk's schedule is the amount actually charged and is still the version posted (dated 1/1/2022). Same fee with or without children. The waiver name comes from the Clerk's Domestic Relations Division page (https://www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org/divisions/domestic-relations-division): 'You can also submit an application and affidavit to sue or defend as an indigent person, also known as the "298 Petition."'
  15. IndianaTotal Civil Filing Fee for a civil case (IC 33-37-4-4 $100 civil costs fee plus statutory add-on fees), applicable to a dissolution of marriage petition; sheriff service of process is a separate $28. Indiana State Board of Accounts, Filing Fees by Case Type Collected by the Clerk (July 1, 2025), 2025 Court Costs and Fees by Case Type (court website). www.in.gov/sboa/files/2025-Court-Costs-and-Fees-by-Case-Type.pdfFee line as read: $157 statewide, plus $20 in counties with an approved ADR plan (up to $177). The SBOA schedule is the state's official compilation of statutory fees (Indiana Code 33-37); a 2026 edition does not exist at the same path (404) and the Office of Court Services Trial Court Fee Manual PDF could not be parsed after download. The $157 civil total is uniform statewide; the only variable is the $20 domestic-relations ADR fee (IC 33-23-6) in counties with an approved plan, making $177 the maximum. Marion County (Indianapolis), the most populous county, is widely reported at $177 but its official fee page on indy.gov returned a server error during this check, so no Marion figure is asserted here. Same fee with or without children. Fee waiver (IC 33-37-3-2 / Verified Motion for Fee Waiver) is not mentioned in this source, so left null.
  16. IowaFiling and docketing a petition for dissolution of marriage (includes docketing of the dissolution decree). Iowa Code 2026, section 602.8105(1)(b) (Fees for civil cases and other services) (statute). www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/602.8105.pdfStatutory, uniform statewide; same fee with or without children. The Iowa Judicial Branch court-fees web page returned 404 through both fetch routes, so the Code section (official Iowa Legislature PDF, Iowa Code 2026) is used directly. Fee waiver (Iowa Code 610A / Iowa R. Civ. P. 1.1602 application to defer costs) is not mentioned in this section, so left null.
  17. KansasDivorce/Paternity district court filing (K.S.A. 60-2001 docket fee $173 plus $22 surcharge). Kansas Judicial Branch Self-Help Center, District Court Filing Fees (court website). self-help.kscourts.gov/Home/FeesFee line as read: $195 (add $1.50 in Johnson County, $2.00 in Sedgwick County). Statutory base is K.S.A. 60-2001(a) (https://ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch60/060_020_0001.html): 'no case shall be filed or docketed in the district court ... without payment of a docket fee in the amount of $173 to the clerk of the district court' plus a Supreme Court surcharge 'not to exceed $22 per docket fee'; the revisor's posted text still shows the surcharge window as July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2025, but the Judicial Branch's live self-help page (fetched today) states the current total as $195. Johnson County (most populous) total is therefore $196.50. Same fee with or without children.
  18. KentuckyFiling fee for a civil case in Circuit Court (dissolution of marriage is a Circuit/Family Court civil case), CR 3.02(1), effective July 1, 2026. Supreme Court of Kentucky, Order 2026-15, In re: Order Amending the Rules of Civil Procedure (CR 3.02 Circuit civil fees and costs), entered May 14, 2026 (court rule). www.kycourts.gov/Courts/Supreme-Court/Supreme%20Court%20Orders/202615.pdfFee line as read: $208 minimum ($188 circuit civil filing fee + $20 court technology fee); county facility and library fees are added. Fee is the $188 CR 3.02(1) circuit civil filing fee plus the mandatory $20 court technology fee, both statewide under Supreme Court Order 2026-15 (effective July 1, 2026); county facility and law library fees are added at the counter, so the total varies by county. Kentucky civil filing fees are set by Supreme Court rule (KRS 23A.200 delegates civil fees to the Court), so the $188 base is statewide, but the amount paid at the counter adds the mandatory $20 court technology fee (minimum $208) plus per-county court facility and law library fees (KRS 27A.630, KRS 453.060, KRS 172.180), which is why totals differ by county. No official county-specific total for Jefferson County (Louisville, most populous) could be retrieved; kycourts.gov pages required a premium proxy and the county pages list no amounts. No with/without-children distinction in the rule. Fee waiver (motion to proceed in forma pauperis, KRS 453.190, form AOC-025) is not mentioned in this order, so left null.
  19. LouisianaFAMILY - NEW FILINGS advance cost deposit for a new family suit (petition for divorce), collected by the Clerk of Court as an estimate of filing and processing costs. East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court, Advance Cost Fee Schedule (Suit Accounting Form #17, Rev. 7/3/24) (county clerk fee schedule). www.ebrclerk.com/s/17_Advance-Cost-Fee-Schedule-lhzs.pdfFee line as read: $150 advance deposit without service, $240 with one service, in East Baton Rouge Parish (varies by parish). Louisiana has no statewide divorce filing fee; each parish clerk sets an advance cost deposit under R.S. 13:841 et seq., and the state publishes no range. East Baton Rouge is the most populous parish (2020 Census 456,781, ahead of Jefferson 440,781). The amounts are advance deposits against costs, not flat fees: the schedule notes 'Whenever the cost have exhausted the amount of the original advance deposit, the Clerk may refuse to perform any further function in the proceeding until the additional costs for the function have been paid' (R.S. 13:842). Additional costs later in the case include Rule to Show Cause Art. 102 $145.00 and Judgment of Divorce $125.00. Text extraction pairs the $150.00 with the 'without service' line and $240.00 with the 'with one service' line. Same deposit with or without children. Fee-waiver wording from https://www.ebrclerk.com/suit-accounting.
  20. MaineEntry of a Family Matter Action in the District Court (a divorce complaint is a family matter action). Maine Supreme Judicial Court, Administrative Order JB-05-26 (A. 3-26), Court Fees Schedule, section I(A)(3)(k), effective March 9, 2026 (court rule). www.courts.maine.gov/adminorders/jb-05-26.pdfSet by Supreme Judicial Court administrative order, uniform statewide; same fee with or without children. Footnote 11 reads: 'Includes a grandparents or great-grandparents visitation petition under 19-A M.R.S. 1801-1805, which must be filed as a new action. The term also applies to post-judgment termination of parental rights actions ... and other actions not otherwise listed in this Schedule initiated under specific statutory authority where no filing fee is set by statute.' The Judicial Branch's divorce how-to page (https://courts.maine.gov/courts/family/divorce-separation/how-to-start.html) confirms: 'There is a fee to start a divorce or parental rights case. You pay this at the time you file. ... If you qualify because of your financial circumstances, the court may waive your filing fees.' The order also states litigants 'granted in forma pauperis status pursuant to M.R. Civ. P. 91' are exempt from fees. A separate mediation fee applies later if mediation is ordered.
  21. MarylandInitial filing fee for docketing a civil action or proceeding in circuit court (a complaint for absolute divorce is a civil action). Maryland Judiciary, Revised Schedule of Charges, Costs and Fees to be Charged by the Clerks of the Circuit Courts under Courts Article, 7-202 (effective September 16, 2021) (court rule). www.mdcourts.gov/sites/default/files/import/circuit/feeschedule.pdfSection II.A.1(A). The $165 carries footnote markers 1 and 2 in the PDF: footnote 1 'Includes Maryland Legal Services Corporation Fund surcharge of $55'; footnote 2 'Includes Circuit Court Real Property Records Improvement Fund surcharge - $30 for initial filing'. The schedule has no separate divorce or with-children line; divorce is docketed as a civil action. Linked from https://www.mdcourts.gov/circuit/feeschedule, which also lists a Fee Summary Chart effective April 1, 2022. No separate children fee.
  22. MassachusettsDivorce, Complaint (Probate and Family Court) - filing fee plus mandatory surcharge. Mass.gov, Probate and Family Court filing fees (court website). www.mass.gov/info-details/probate-and-family-court-filing-feesFee line as read: $215 ($200 filing fee + $15 surcharge; each summons $5 extra). Table columns are 'Type of pleading / Filing fee / Surcharge (if applicable)'. Same page: 'The fees listed don't include citation or summons fees. Each citation is an additional $15 and each summons is an additional $5.' and 'If you're entering a complaint, petition or other civil action that has an initial filing fee and a separate docket number, you must also pay the Register a $15 surcharge.' Statutory basis confirmed at M.G.L. c. 262, s. 40 (https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleVI/Chapter262/Section40): 'for the filing of a complaint for affirmation of marriage, annulment, divorce, $200;'. A joint petition (1A) pays the same $200 + $15 per the same table. The fee page does not mention the indigency waiver, so fee_waiver is left null. No separate children fee.
  23. MichiganCivil Filing Fee (MCL 600.2529(1)(a)) plus Electronic Filing System Fee (MCL 600.1986(1)(a)) for commencing a divorce in circuit court; plus Custody and Parenting Time Fee (MCL 600.2529(1)(d)(i)) where custody or parenting time of minor children is to be determined. Michigan Supreme Court / SCAO, Circuit Court Fee and Assessments Table (February 2025) (court website). www.courts.michigan.gov/490e52/siteassets/court-administration/resources/cfee.pdFee line as read: $175 without minor children ($150 civil filing fee + $25 e-filing system fee); $255 with minor children (adds $80 custody and parenting time fee). The table has no row labelled 'divorce'; a divorce is commenced as a civil action and pays the $150 civil filing fee plus the $25 electronic filing system fee (total $175). The $80 custody and parenting time fee (Friend of the Court section, footnote 9 'To be paid at the time of filing') applies when custody or parenting time of minor children is to be determined, giving $255. Footnote 3: 'Fees can be waived or suspended pursuant to MCL 600.2529(5) or MCR 2.002. If the court waives payment of a fee for commencing a civil action because the court determines that the party is indigent or unable to pay the fee, the court shall also waive payment of the electronic filing system fee. MCL 600.1986(3)'. Totals are sums of the official line items, not a single printed total.
  24. MinnesotaDissolution of Marriage (Divorce) with or without Children - petitioner's first-paper filing fee. Minnesota Judicial Branch, District Court Fees - Hennepin County (court website). mncourts.gov/help-topics/court-fees/district-court-feesFee line as read: $390 statewide base plus a county law library fee; Hennepin County total $402. Statewide component is fixed by Minn. Stat. 357.021, subd. 2(1) (https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/357.021): 'the plaintiff, petitioner, or other moving party shall pay, when the first paper is filed for that party in said action, a fee of $310, except in marriage dissolution actions the fee is $340.' The statewide fee page (https://mncourts.gov/help-topics/court-fees/district-court-fees) shows 'Dissolution of Marriage (Divorce) with or without Children Fee: $390.00 Fee Calculation: Base Fee $340 + Other Fee $50' and states 'Minnesota counties may assess an additional law library fee to the fees listed here.' The state does not publish a single range; the total varies only by the county law library fee. Same fee with or without children.
  25. MississippiChancery Court filing fee (Total Due) for a divorce case - Divorce Contested/Fault; Divorce Uncontested/Joint is $148. Oktibbeha County, MS - Chancery Court Filing Fees (county clerk fee schedule). www.oktibbeha.ms.gov/161/Chancery-Court-Filing-FeesFee line as read: Varies by county (chancery clerk); Oktibbeha County: $148 uncontested/joint, $158 contested/fault. Mississippi divorce is filed in chancery court and clerk fees are set by Miss. Code Ann. 25-7-9 with county-level add-ons (law library, court administrator, court reporter, etc.), so totals differ by county. Hinds County's chancery clerk page (https://www.hindscountyms.com/elected-offices/chancery-clerk) confirms that 'certain fees must be collected such as: Court Costs, Law Library, Court Administrator, Court Reporter and Judicial fees' but publishes no amounts. Madison County posts a schedule at https://www.madison-co.com/sites/default/files/chancery_court_fees.effective_1-1-2020.pdf but it is a scanned image and no OCR tool was available on this machine. DeSoto County's chancery fee page returned no fee amounts. The official Mississippi Code (25-7-9) is hosted on a LexisNexis portal that could not be fetched. No with-children variant is published. Confidence is partial because the most populous county could not be verified.
  26. MissouriDissolution of Marriage - deposit required (filing fee and costs deposit), Family Court Actions. St. Louis County Circuit Court (21st Judicial Circuit), Schedule of Deposits and Fees, CCOPR101-WS Rev 01/2026, effective January 1, 2026 (county clerk fee schedule). stlcountycourts.com/sites/default/assets/pdfs/CCOPR101-WS---Schedule-of-Deposit-Fee line as read: Varies by circuit; St. Louis County (21st Judicial Circuit): $148.50. Missouri circuit filing costs are a statewide clerk fee under Court Operating Rule 21.01 ('$45 for filing of all other circuit civil cases', https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=1040) plus statutory surcharges and county-specific costs (law library, etc.), so each circuit posts its own schedule and the state publishes no single range. St. Louis County is the most populous county. Sibling line items on the same schedule: Legal Separation $148.50, Separate Maintenance $137.50, Annulment $148.50. No with-children variant on the schedule; the schedule does not mention a fee waiver (Missouri's in forma pauperis mechanism is a separate motion under RSMo 514.040, not cited on this source).
  27. MontanaClerk of district court fee for filing a petition for dissolution of marriage. Montana Code Annotated 2025, 25-1-201 Fees of clerk of district court (statute). archive.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0250/chapter_0010/part_0020/section_0010/0250-MCA 25-1-201(1)(a). The leg.mt.gov URL 301-redirects to archive.legmt.gov, which serves the 2025 code. Subsection (3)(a) allocates $5 of the dissolution fee to the children's trust fund, $19 to civil legal assistance for indigent victims of domestic violence, and $30 to the partner and family member assault intervention and treatment fund. No with-children variant. The statute does not mention the fee-waiver mechanism (that is MCA 25-10-404 / court form, not cited here).
  28. NebraskaDistrict Courts - Civil - 3. Dissolution Fee (total of docket fee and statutory add-on fees collected at filing). Nebraska Judicial Branch, Filing Fees and Court Costs (effective 07-01-2026) (court website). supremecourt.nebraska.gov/rules/administrative-policies-schedules/feesThe page header reads 'Effective 07-01-2026'. The $200 is the printed total for the Dissolution Fee category; the underlying docket fee is Neb. Rev. Stat. 33-106 (https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=33-106: 'There shall be a docket fee of forty-two dollars for each civil and criminal case except:'). No separate with-children fee; same total.
  29. NevadaComplaint or Joint Petition for Divorce (Family Division), total of statutory fees under NRS 19.013, 19.020, 19.030, 19.0302, 19.0303, 19.031, 19.0312, 19.0313, 19.0315, 19.033(1), 440.605 and Clark County Code 2.32. Eighth Judicial District Court (Clark County), Official Fees for the Eighth Judicial District Court (Rev. 8.28.26 EJDC Filing Fees) (county clerk fee schedule). www.clarkcountycourts.us/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Rev.-8.28.26-EJDC-Filing-FeeFee line as read: Varies by county; Clark County (Eighth Judicial District Court): $299. Linked from the Clerk's Filing page (https://www.clarkcountycourts.us/departments/clerk/filing/): 'Fees are set by the Nevada State Legislature or County Commission and are subject to change or modification without prior notice. For a complete list of these fees, click here. (Effective August 28, 2026).' The PDF's printed header still reads 'Effective October 1, 2019' but its file metadata shows it was modified 2026-08-28 and the clerk labels it Rev. 8.28.26. Cross-checked against the 2026 Family Filing Fee Remittance form (https://www.clarkcountycourts.us/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Filing-Fee-Remittance-Family-Form-26.pdf), where '01B Divorce Complaint' is $299.00. Nevada fees are a statutory base (NRS ch. 19) plus county-authorized add-ons, so other counties differ; the state publishes no single range. Same fee with or without children, and the same for a joint petition. The fee list does not mention the fee-waiver application.
  30. New HampshireOriginal Entry of All Divorce Matters (Family Division), total fee. New Hampshire Judicial Branch, Circuit Court Filing Fees (Family Division Rule 1.3) (court website). www.courts.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt471/files/documents/2021-06/filing_fees.pdFee line as read: $280 without minor children; $282 with minor children or parenting matters. Linked from https://www.courts.nh.gov/resources/forms-and-fees. The PDF states the totals are 'Based On District Division Rules 1.28, 3.3; Family Division Rule 1.3'. The URL path contains 2021-06 but the document is the current one linked from the Judicial Branch fees page as of the fetch date; no effective date is printed on the family-division page of the PDF.
  31. New JerseyComplaint (first paper) in divorce/dissolution actions, Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part (FM docket); plus $25 Parenting Workshop (parent education) fee when there are minor children. NJ Courts, Self-Help: Divorce (Plaintiff's Fees table) (court website). www.njcourts.gov/self-help/divorceFee line as read: $300 ($325 with minor children). Quote is the page's Plaintiff's Fees table flattened to text. Confirmed by the Judiciary fee schedule PDF (Rule 1:43; N.J.S.A. 22A:2-12), https://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/forms/11112_courtfees.pdf: 'Complaint (first paper) in divorce actions or actions for dissolution of a civil union or domestic partnership (N.J.S.A. 22A:2-12; Rule 1:43) $300.00' and 'Parent Education Registration (N.J.S.A. 2A:34-12.2) $25.00'; its FAQ: 'The $300 filing fee is for the divorce (dissolution) complaint only. In applicable cases, an additional $25 may be required for the parent education fee.' Defendant's first responsive pleading is $175. The $25 parenting fee is excused where a restraining order exists or a signed property settlement agreement is filed with the complaint.
  32. New MexicoDomestic relations case filing fee (petition for dissolution of marriage), district court, NMSA 1978 Section 34-6-40. Second Judicial District Court (Bernalillo County), Fees, Costs & Filing (court website). seconddistrict.nmcourts.gov/about-this-district/fees-costs-filing/Fee is set by statute (NMSA 1978 Section 34-6-40) so it is the same in every district; the First Judicial District fee page (https://firstdistrict.nmcourts.gov/about-this-district/fees-costs-filing/) lists the same figure: 'New and Reopened Domestic Cases $137.00'. No separate with-children rate. The statewide self-help divorce page (selfrepresentation.nmcourts.gov/divorce/) does not print the amount and says to check with the local district court. Statute text itself was not fetched (nmonesource.com is script-rendered); the figure rests on two official district court fee pages citing the statute.
  33. New YorkIndex number purchased at the County Clerk when the Summons With Notice or Summons and Verified Complaint is filed (Supreme Court matrimonial action), CPLR 8018. NY Unified Court System, Uncontested Divorce Instructions (Rev. 3/1/26), Filing Fees / Step 2 (court website). ww2.nycourts.gov/divorce/pdfs/Divorce-Packet-Instructions.pdfFee line as read: $210 index number (about $335 total with RJI and Note of Issue). Step 2 of the same packet: 'Unless you are granted a Waiver of Court Costs, Fees and Expenses, you will be required to pay $210 for the index number.' Structure: $210 index number at filing; later $125 combined for the Request for Judicial Intervention ($95) plus Note of Issue ($30), paid when the case is placed on the calendar (Step 12), so a full uncontested divorce costs $335 in court fees. Counties differ only in whether the $125 is collected as one payment or as $95 + $30. Fees are statewide under CPLR 8018/8020. The older nycourts.gov/divorce/divorce_fees.shtml page now 404s.
  34. North CarolinaComplaint for absolute divorce in District Court: General Court of Justice fee $130 + facilities fee $16 + telecommunications/data fee $4 + absolute divorce fee $75 (G.S. 7A-305(a)(1), (a)(1a), (a)(2), (a2)). N.C. General Statutes Section 7A-305, Costs in civil actions (statute). www.ncleg.gov/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bysection/chapter_7a/gs_7a-305.htSame statute, subsection (a): facilities fee 'sixteen dollars ($16.00) in district and superior court'; (1a) 'four dollars ($4.00)'; (2) 'one hundred thirty dollars ($130.00) in the district court'. Total $150 district civil filing + $75 divorce = $225, which is also what the Judicial Branch's Court Costs and Fees Chart effective January 1, 2026 (https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/publications/current-court-costs, civil chart PDF dated 04.09.2026) shows: DISTRICT COURT TOTAL 150.00 and 'Filing for absolute divorce. G.S. 7A-305(a2). 75.00'. Sheriff service is $30 per item extra. No separate with-children rate; custody/support are separate claims. The nccourts.gov divorce help page says 'You must pay the court filing fee. If you are unable to do so, you can apply to file as an indigent using this form.'
  35. North DakotaFiling a petition (summons and complaint) for divorce, annulment, or separation in district court, N.D.C.C. Section 27-05.2-03. North Dakota Court System, North Dakota Court Fee Schedule, Effective July 1, 2025 (court website). www.ndcourts.gov/Media/Default/district-courts/Court-Fees.pdfSchedule header: 'This schedule has been compiled to assist clerks of district court in determining the fee to be charged under N.D.C.C. 27-05.2-03'. The civil filing fee doubled from $80 to $160 on July 1, 2025 (ndcourts.gov Notice of Fee Increases); older secondary sources still show $80. Answer fee is $100. No separate with-children rate. The self-help divorce page links to the fee-waiver forms.
  36. OhioAction for Divorce, Franklin County Common Pleas Domestic Relations Division, clerk's filing deposit exclusive of service of process. Franklin County Clerk of Courts, Domestic Relations Division Fee Schedule (Revised 12/2025) (county clerk fee schedule). clerk.franklincountyohio.gov/files/assets/clerkofcourt/v/1/documents/legal-divisFee line as read: $275 in Franklin County (Columbus); varies by county. Fees are set by each county's court, not statewide, and Ohio publishes no statewide range. Franklin County charges the same $275 with or without children; its Divorce/Dissolution Procedural Information page (https://clerk.franklincountyohio.gov/Legal-Divisions/Divorce-Dissolution-Procedural-Information) states under both 'Divorce With No Children' and 'Divorce With Children': 'Filing fee of $275 plus Service Fee (see Service Options below)' (certified mail $10, sheriff $30, publication $475). Same schedule: 'Action for Dissolution $225.00' (joint petition), legal separation $200. Cuyahoga County (Cleveland) fee page could not be fetched (HTTP 500/404) so no second county figure is recorded. Fee waiver (poverty affidavit) is not mentioned on the schedule; Ohio courts generally accept an affidavit of indigency but that is not from this source.
  37. OklahomaFlat fee for actions for divorce, alimony without divorce, separate maintenance, custody or support, collected by the district court clerk at filing, 28 O.S. Section 152(A)(1). Oklahoma Statutes, Title 28 Section 152, Flat Fee Schedule - Forma Pauperis (OSCN) (statute). www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.aspFee line as read: $183 statutory flat fee (plus statutory add-ons; county clerks quote higher totals). Section 152(A): 'In any civil case filed in a district court, the court clerk shall collect, at the time of filing, the following flat fees, none of which shall ever be refundable, and which shall be the only charge for court costs, except as is otherwise specifically provided for by law'. Other statutes add fixed charges on top (e.g. 28 O.S. 152.1 and law library, OCIS, CASA and similar fund assessments), so county clerk totals commonly exceed $183; the $183 is the statutory base. No separate with-children rate (custody and support are inside the same $183 line).
  38. OregonDissolution of marriage, annulment, or separation: first appearance by petitioner (the respondent pays the same $301 to appear), ORS 21.155(1). Oregon Judicial Department, Circuit Court Fee Schedule (Public Version), Effective January 1, 2026 (court website). www.courts.oregon.gov/Documents/2026_CircuitFeeSchedule_public_eff-2026-01-01.pdThe authority column cites ORS 21.155(1), not 21.135. Same fee with or without children. The schedule's 'WAIVER OR DEFERRAL OF FEES ORS 21.682 Application for waiver or deferral' line has no charge; the fees landing page (courts.oregon.gov/Pages/fees.aspx) says 'If you cannot afford to pay the amount required, you may apply for a fee deferral or waiver.' Dissolution of a domestic partnership is a different line ($281).
  39. PennsylvaniaDivorce Complaint filed with the Department of Court Records, Family Division, Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas; a custody count adds $173.50. Allegheny County Department of Court Records, Family Division Fees (effective January 13, 2025) (county clerk fee schedule). www.alleghenycounty.us/Government/Court-Related/Civil-and-Family-Court-Records/FFee line as read: $195.25 in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh); varies by county (Philadelphia brochure: $333.73). Fees are set per county; Pennsylvania publishes no statewide range. Allegheny County (second most populous) is used because its schedule is dated (effective January 13, 2025). Philadelphia County, the most populous, is shown only in a court-hosted brochure dated January 2020 (https://www.courts.phila.gov/pdf/brochures/dr/divorce-brochure.pdf) stating "The filing fee is $333.73", which was not confirmed against a current clerk schedule.
  40. Rhode IslandEntry of a petition, complaint, or action in the Family Court (complaint for divorce), R.I. Gen. Laws Section 9-29-19(a)(1). R.I. Gen. Laws Section 9-29-19, Family court fees (statute). webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE9/9-29/9-29-19.htmFee line as read: $120 (plus technology surcharge). Same section: '(b) In addition to the fees as set forth herein, the family court shall apply a technology surcharge fee assessed in accordance with 8-15-11.' and '(c) Provided, that ten dollars ($10.00) of the fee for the entry of every petition, complaint or action shall be forwarded to Rhode Island Legal Services.' The surcharge amount is not stated in this section, so the out-of-pocket total is slightly above $120. Same fee with or without children. The statute does not mention a waiver mechanism (the Family Court accepts a motion to waive the filing fee on an affidavit of indigency, but that is not from this source). The Family Court website itself does not print a divorce fee; the Rules of Domestic Relations Procedure and forms pages were the only leads.
  41. South CarolinaFamily Court filing fee for Divorce, Annulment, and Separate Support and Maintenance actions (first complaint). South Carolina Judicial Branch, Family Court Filing Fees (court website). www.sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/family-court/court-fees/Statutory basis: S.C. Code 8-21-310(C)(1) ('collect one hundred dollars for filing a first complaint or petition ... in a civil action or proceeding') plus S.C. Code 14-1-204(B)(1) ('There is added to the fee imposed pursuant to Section 8-21-310(C)(1) an additional fee equal to fifty dollars'), total $150 (scstatehouse.gov, fetched 2026-09-15). Cross-checked against the SC Judicial Branch Family Court FAQ PDF (https://www.sccourts.org/media/jbglk0xs/faq_eng_family-court.pdf): 'you will be required to pay the $150 filing fee when you file for divorce.' The fee page lists the $150 heading with the case types beneath it; the quote joins the heading and its first list item. No separate with-children fee.
  42. South DakotaDivorce filing: $25 clerk fee plus $40 court automation and $7 law library, total $72. South Dakota Unified Judicial System, Schedule of Court Costs, Guide to Filing Fees and Court Costs - Civil Filings Only (Effective July 1, 2026) (court website). ujs.sd.gov/media/pcyowtsx/2027-schedule-of-court-costs.pdfPDF table columns are (clerk fee), COURT AUTOMATION, LAW LIBRARY, TOTAL; the Divorce row reads $25.00, $40.00, $7.00, $72.00, under the heading 'Effective July 1, 2026' (document marked 'Rev. July 1, 2026'). The $25 clerk component matches SDCL 16-2-29(3) (twenty-five dollars for civil cases filed for jury or court trial and all matters not otherwise provided for), read via the SDLRC API at https://sdlegislature.gov/api/Statutes/16-2-29.html. Waiver text from https://ujs.sd.gov/self-help/civil-law-help/fee-waivers/ (same site). No separate with-children fee.
  43. TennesseeNew case filing fee total, Category 6 Divorce with No Minor Children (and Category 5 Divorce with Minor Children), Shelby County Circuit Court, Fee Schedule Effective January 1, 2026. Shelby County, TN, Schedule of Filing Fees, Circuit Court (Circuit Court Clerk) (county clerk fee schedule). www.shelbycountytn.gov/2530/Filing-FeesFee line as read: $356.50 without minor children, $431.50 with minor children (Shelby County Circuit Court); varies by county. Page header: 'Please see Amendment No. 1 to SB0409 to view changes to the Circuit Court Fee schedule, beginning January 1, 2026 Fee Schedule Effective January 1, 2026'. Totals bundle the T.C.A. 8-21-401 clerk fee with state and county litigation taxes, so the amount differs by county; Tennessee does not publish a statewide range. In Shelby County a divorce may also be filed in Chancery Court, which has its own schedule. The source does not mention a waiver; Tennessee's mechanism is the Uniform Civil Affidavit of Indigency under T.C.A. 20-12-127 (not verified from this source). The official T.C.A. text (Lexis) could not be fetched from this machine.
  44. TexasFamily case filing fee, Divorce no Children / Divorce with Children (new suit, no service), Harris County District Clerk, effective January 1, 2026. Harris County District Clerk, Civil and Family Cases Filing and Service Fees (Effective January 1, 2026) (county clerk fee schedule). www.hcdistrictclerk.com/common/civil/pdf/Fee_Schedule_Civil_and_Family.pdfFee line as read: $350 without children, $365 with children (Harris County); varies by county. Same PDF also states 'Filing Fee New Suit (Family No Service) (SB41) $350.00' and 'Domestic Relations Fee 282 (Gov't Code) added to all cases involving children $15.00', which is the $15 difference. Service of citation is extra. Texas does not publish a statewide range; other counties differ slightly. The HTML fee-schedule page (hcdistrictclerk.com/Common/Civil/FeeSchedule.aspx) redirects to an error page without a browser session; the PDF is linked from that page as 'Family Fee Schedules'.
  45. UtahPetition for divorce or separate maintenance, Utah Code 78A-2-301(1)(b)(iv), effective May 6, 2026. Utah State Courts, Filing/Record Fees (Filing Fees - Effective May 6, 2026) (court website). www.utcourts.gov/en/self-help/legal-help/procedures/fees.htmlStatute confirmed at https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title78A/Chapter2/78A-2-S301.html (current version effective 5/6/2026): '(iv) except as provided in Subsection (1)(b)(v), $350 if the petition is filed for an action described in Title 81, Chapter 4, Dissolution of Marriage;'. The same page lists $130 for a divorce counterclaim (1)(d)(iv) and $35 for a temporary separation petition (1)(b)(v). No separate with-children fee.
  46. VermontEntry of a divorce or annulment proceeding in the Superior Court (Family Division), 32 V.S.A. 1431(b)(2). Vermont Statutes Online, 32 V.S.A. § 1431 (Fees in Supreme and Superior Courts) (statute). legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/32/017/01431Fee line as read: $295 ($90 if filed with a stipulation for a final order and at least one spouse is a Vermont resident; $180 stipulated if neither is a resident). Waiver text in the same section: '(h) Pursuant to Vermont Rules of Civil Procedure 3.1 or Vermont Rules of Appellate Procedure 24(a), part or all of the filing fee may be waived if the court finds that the applicant is unable to pay it.' No separate with-children fee.
  47. VirginiaDivorce filing fee, Domestic Cases, Fairfax Circuit Court Civil Filing Instructions & Fee Schedule, effective July 1, 2026. Fairfax Circuit Court, Civil Filing Instructions & Fee Schedule (Effective July 1, 2026) (county clerk fee schedule). www.fairfaxcounty.gov/circuit/sites/circuit/files/assets/documents/pdf/fees-civiFee line as read: $89 in Fairfax County (statutory clerk's fee is $60 statewide; local add-ons make the total vary by locality). Statutory base is statewide: Va. Code 17.1-275(A)(26) (https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title17.1/chapter2/section17.1-275/): 'In all divorce and separate maintenance proceedings, and all civil actions that do not include one or more claims for the award of monetary damages, the clerk's fee chargeable to the plaintiff shall be $60, $10 of which shall be apportioned to the Courts Technology Fund'. Subsections B, C and D add courthouse construction (17.1-281), legal aid (17.1-278) and law library (42.1-70) assessments that are set locally, which is why totals differ: Fairfax $89 (7/1/2026). The Virginia Judicial System self-help page (https://selfhelp.vacourts.gov/page/14/filing-fees-waivers) states 'There is not one uniform filing fee. Fees depend on case type and location.' The per-court schedules under vacourts.gov/caseinfo/circuit_fees/ returned 404 on 2026-09-15; the official calculator is https://vacourts.gov/ccfees_calc_app. The source does not mention a waiver; Virginia's mechanism is the Petition for Proceeding in Civil Case Without Payment of Fees or Costs (Form CC-1414, Va. Code 17.1-606), not verified from this source.
  48. WashingtonDissolution of Marriage petition filing fee, King County Superior Court and Clerk's Fee Schedule effective June 11, 2026. King County Superior Court Clerk (Department of Judicial Administration), Superior Court and Clerk's Fee Schedule (county clerk fee schedule). cdn.kingcounty.gov/-/media/king-county/depts/dja/fee-schedules/feeschedule_engliFee line as read: $364 in King County ($344 fixed by statute statewide plus a county facilitator surcharge of up to $20). Statutory build-up verified at https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=36.18.020 and https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=36.18.016: RCW 36.18.020(2)(a) 'the party filing the first or initial document in any civil action ... shall pay, at the time the document is filed, a fee of $200'; (5)(c) 'a surcharge of $40 must be collected'; (6) 'a surcharge of $50 must be collected'; RCW 36.18.016(2)(b) 'The party filing the first or initial petition for dissolution, legal separation, or declaration concerning the validity of marriage shall pay, at the time and in addition to the filing fee required under RCW 36.18.020, a fee of $54'; RCW 36.18.016(15) 'A facilitator surcharge of up to $20 must be charged as authorized under RCW 26.12.240'. Total 200+40+50+54 = $344 statewide, plus up to $20 facilitator (and RCW 36.18.016(28) allows a further surcharge of up to $20 in dissolution actions under RCW 26.12.260 in counties that adopt it), so the statewide range is $344 to $384. King County's schedule has a single Dissolution of Marriage line; it does not distinguish with or without children. Fee waiver (GR 34) is on a separate King County page, not this schedule.
  49. West VirginiaInstituting an action for divorce, separate maintenance, or annulment (circuit clerk fee, family court case). West Virginia Code § 59-1-11, Fees to be charged by clerk of circuit court (statute). code.wvlegislature.gov/59-1-11/Subsection (a)(4) sets $85 for petitioning to modify custody, visitation, child support or spousal support. The statute does not mention a waiver; West Virginia's mechanism is the Financial Affidavit and Application: Waiver of Fees, Costs, or Security under W. Va. Code 59-2-1 (not verified from this source). No separate with-children fee.
  50. WisconsinFamily action, commence action, Wis. Stat. 814.61(1)(a) & (b) (divorce, annulment, legal separation), total fee including CSS and JINFO surcharges and the family court counseling services fee. Wisconsin Court System, Wisconsin Circuit Court Fee, Forfeiture, Fine and Surcharge Tables, Table 1 (Updated September 2, 2026) (court website). www.wicourts.gov/courts/circuit/docs/fees.pdfFee line as read: $184.50 with no request for support or maintenance; $194.50 with a request for support or maintenance. The table's split is by whether support or maintenance is requested, not by the presence of minor children; a divorce with minor children normally requests child support and pays $194.50, so that figure is recorded as the with-children fee. Bracketed text in the quote is the adjacent CASE CLASS and COMMENTS cells of the same table rows. E-filing adds $35 per party (758.19(4m)). Wis. Stat. 814.61 (https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/814/ii/61) shows (1)(a) rising from $75 to $130 and (1)(b) from $20 to $38 effective 11-1-2026 under 2025 Wis. Act 179, so these totals will increase on November 1, 2026; recheck the table after that date.
  51. WyomingDistrict court original filing fee for a civil action (including divorce), paid by the plaintiff, Wyo. Stat. 5-3-206(a)(i). Wyoming Legislature, Wyoming Statutes Title 5 (Courts), § 5-3-206 Fees (statute). wyoleg.gov/statutes/compress/title05.pdfDivorce is filed in district court and carries the general civil filing fee; no divorce-specific line. The statute does not mention a waiver mechanism (Wyoming uses an affidavit of indigency under Wyo. Stat. 1-14-127 / Rule 3.1, not verified from this source). No separate with-children fee.

Cite This Page

"How Much Does a Divorce Cost? Filing Fees in Every State, Lawyer Rates, and Totals by Case Type." Legal Tank. Updated September 15, 2026. https://legaltank.org/how-much-does-a-divorce-cost

Court self-help centers, law librarians, and journalists are welcome to link to or reproduce the fee table with attribution. When quoting a fee, please also link the official schedule in that row.

Not legal advice. This page is general information about what divorce costs. Legal Tank is not a law firm, does not provide legal representation, and no attorney-client relationship is formed by reading it. Fees and procedures change; confirm the current fee with the clerk of the court where you will file.

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